Charge-heating device for internal-combustion engines



1m. '19, 192s. Y 1,570,413

. C. SMITH CHARGE HEATING DEVICE vFOR INTERNAL CONBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. 1B, 1922 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

CHARLES SMITH, OF ST. LOUS, TYISSOURI.

CHARGE-HEATING DEVCE FR INTERNAL-COMBUSTON ENGINES.

Application filed November 18, 1922. Serial No. 601,775.

T all vrwhom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, @nannies Siri'frn, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have .invented certain new and useful improve ments in Cliarge-l-leating Devices for lntermal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

rlhis invent-ion relates generally to improvements in charge heating devices for internal combustion. engines, and particularly to a simple and inexpensive device which is adapted to be associated with the intake conductor of an internal combustion engine whereby the explosive charoe passing through said intake conductor may be thoroughly vaporized, regardless of atmospheric conditions or temperatures.

lt .is a well known fact that much dilib culty is sometimes experienced, particularly in cold weather, in starting an internal combustion engine due to the fact that the el plosive charge comes to the cylinders of the engine in the form of a wet, poorly carbureted mixture instead of a dry vapor which burns with full eiltlciency when it is ignited by the sparks in said cylinders. The device disclosed in the present application comprises an electrically energized heater which is adapted to be introduced into the intake conductor of an internal combustion engine so that the explosive charge passing through said intake conductor may be thoroughly vaporized and the engine started with ease and facility.

4another object is to produce a heating device of the class described, the heat-gen erating element of which will not be consumed when subjected to long use.

"With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

Fig. I is a fragmentary side elevation of the carburetor and the intake conductor of an internal combustion engine, my heating device being associated with said intake conductor.

Fig. H is an enlarged section through my heating device` a portion of the intake conductor being illustrated,

Fig. lll is a section on line lll-lll ot Fig. Il.

Fig. lV is a section on line lV-lil of in the drawings, A designates a. carburotor which may be of any suitable construction and has communication with the cylinders of the internal combustion engine (not shown) by way ot an intake conductor B.

illy improved heater is indicated by the reference character H and is partially introduced into the intake conductor B, a threaded opening C being formed through a wall of said intake conductor to receive said heater. ln the present embodiment o. my invention the heater comprises a body portion il in the form of a shell, said body portion being provided with an externally threaded portion 2, an annular flange porlion 3 and a heating portion 4l. The hea-ting portion 4l of said body port-ion 1 is adapted to be introducedinto the intake conductor B. the threads on the portion 2 engaging the threads within the opening C (F Il).

T he flange portion 3 of the body portion l is provided with an internally threaded central opening 5 which receives a threaded plug ll provided with a central longitudinal opening 7, said opening Y being provided f with an enlarged portion 7 at one cud of the plug 6 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Extended through the opening 7 within the plug 6 is a. conductor 8 provided with an enlarged head 9 at one of its ends, said head resembling the heads found on ordinary round headed screws and being provided with a knurled port-ion 9. The conductor S is spaced apart from the wall of the opening 7, there being a tube of insulaiing material l0, preferably asbestos, surrounding said conductor. Located in the enlarged portion T of the opening l and surrounding a portion of the conductor S is an insulating member 1l, said member being preferably formed of mica and being provided with an annular flange 1l which contacts with the outside face of the plug 6. The outer end portion of the conductor S is threaded as indicated by the reference Sil llO

character 8', said threaded portion being adapted to receive a nut 12. 13 indicates a washer which is interposed between the outer tace of the insulating member 11 and the nut 12. Interposed between the nut 12 and the washer 13 is the end of a wire whereby electric energy is conducted lto the conductor 8. To insulate the head 9 of the conductor 8 from the .plug G, I employ a washer 141 which may be formed of any suitable insulating material, said washer being located in a recess formed in the inner face of said plug (3 and being interposed between said plug and said head (Fig. Il).

Located within the heating portion 4 oit' the body portion ot' my device is a resistance element 15, said resistance element prefer ably being in the form of a coiled electric wire whereby heat may be generated. To insure positive contact. between the conductor 8 and the resistance element 15, I provide the head of said conductor with an opening 16 into which an end of said heating `element is forced. The opposite end ot the 4resistance element bears firmly against the closed inner end ot the body portion 1. Interposed between the resistance element 15 and the inside face of the annular wall of the body portion l is an insulating member 17 in tube form, said insulating member preferably being iormed of asbestos or similar material which, in addition to acting as an insulator, will pack the joints between the plug 6 and the flange portion 8 and between the plug 6 and washer 14, thus preventing the ingress of air to the interior oi the housing.

In use, my improved heater is screwed into the intake conductor B at a point iminediately above the carburetor as shown in Fig. l. lVhen it is desired to start the engine an electric current is supplied to the resistance element 15, thereby causing the heating portion 4l ot the body portion 1 to become hot, whereby heat will be radiated from said portion 4L. The engine may now be started and the incoming gases from the carburetor upon passing the heated zone within the intake conductor will be thoroughly vaporized thereby delivering a rich mixture to the enOine cylinders.

The head 9 ot' the conductor 8 is provided with a knurled portion 9 and is also pro- .vided with a .slot 17', said slot being adaptedto receive the end of a screw driver so that said conductor may be held stationary when the nut 12 is applied to the threaded portion of said conductor in assembling the parts associated with the plug G. The knurled portion is intended to permit said head to be gripped with the lingers, iit it should be desired to hold the conductor in this manner.

rlhe resistance element of my improved heating device is contained within a comparatively air-tight con'ipartment, consequently, as there is no means of ingress for the air constituents necessary to support combustion, the da-nger of said resistance element beingconsumed by lire resulting from long use eliminated.

l claim:

charge heating device for an internal combustion engine comprising abody portion, a portion or which is adapted `to be introduced into the intake conductor of said internal combustion engine, an electrically energized, heat-generating element within said portion or said bod-y portion, packing means whereby air is prevented from being drawn into contact with said heat generating element, a plug at the opposite end of said body portion, said plug being provided with a central longitudinal opening, a conductor arranged in said longitudinal opening, said conductor being provided with a head at one end having an opening adapted'to receive an end oi said heat-generating element and a threaded portion at its other end, a nut on said threaded portion, and insulating members within said longitudinal opening and adjacent to the ends of said conductor whereby said conductor is insulated from said plug.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l hereunto aiiiX my signature.

CHARLES SMITH. 

